//------------------------------// // Prologue: Restless // Story: The Moon Has a Harsh Mistress // by levarien //------------------------------// Luna, Princess of the Night, Regent of the Moon, and the younger Diarch of Equestria, stood on the balcony of her lavishly adorned private quarters in Canterlot Castle. The sun had begun its daily circuit, bathing the alicorn in its warming light. She yawned and rubbed her bloodshot eyes with her hoof. Another night gone; another night spent assuring the safety and security of Equestria's sleeping subjects; another night of extreme boredom. The truth of the matter was that Celestia was too good at what she did. Thousands of years of experience had made her ruthlessly efficient at squelching threats and wonderfully adept at raising the spirits of her subjects. That left little for Luna to do during her nightly vigils but trace the moon's progress across the night sky and reminisce of times long forgotten by everypony but her. "Nopony remembers the consolidation," she said to herself, "nopony save her, and I doubt she gives it much thought." Memories of desperate days trying to hold together the fragile alliance of Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies flooded her mind. Well over a thousand years had passed, but to her, it may as well have only been a few decades. They were frightening times, full of danger and desperation, but they were also exciting. Side by side, their flanks against the proverbial wall, the two Alicorn sisters fought off all manner of threats. From tyrannical Draconequises to rampaging hordes of Minotaurs, there was nothing they couldn't do together. Luna had loved it: Her life was filled with purpose and her subjects loved her for it. But so capable were the two sisters, that soon, Equestria was at peace. For the ponies of the newly peaceful land, night was no longer a time to be vigilant and put their faith in their Princess of the Night: It had become a time to retire to their beds to prepare for seemingly endless sunny days of fun with friends. Luna had... struggled... with the changes. And now she felt it happening again. Those same feelings of inadequacy mixed with rage bubbled under her calm demeanor, threatening to plunge her back into the shadow she had only recently been freed from. She didn't want to hurt anypony; she certainly didn't want to be separated from her beloved sister or the many wonderful ponies who welcomed her wholeheartedly back into their lives. All she wanted was to feel useful and needed. She was one of the most powerful immortal beings in the known world, and she had spent most of the previous evening trading raunchy jokes with her night guard: It seemed like such a waste of her abilities. The answer came to her in her dream: Her only dream. It was almost comical that the princess who could traverse the dreams of every pony in Equestria was stuck in the same dreamscape when she retired to her own bed each dawn. Upon closing her tired eyes, she was surrounded by visions of endless plains of grey dust interrupted only by the occasional crater or smooth rounded hilltop. A large sliver of the blue and white earth shone in the great darkness above, its radiance rivaling that of the sun. Luna remembered the vistas well: Her prison was nothing if not beautiful. It was a vain sentiment, as she basically was the moon for a thousand years; everything she had been was distributed across its breadth. Her consciousness stretched over its surface, inspecting ever deep crater and wide open lunar sea. After the first century, the serene unchanging nature of the lunar surface lulled the monster to sleep and left the princess inside to study her namesake in peace. Luna blinked as she looked at herself in the bejeweled vanity. Her reflection nodded back in steely determination. She strode from her quarters into the wide hallways of Canter Castle, nodding to her guards as she passed. The two bat pony sentries rose their eyebrows at each other in confusion before falling in behind their mistress. "A thousand pardons most honored Nightbringer, but might I inquire as to your destination?" asked the older stallion. "I seek council with my sister," replied Luna, "worry not Lieutenant Flügelnacht, I simply need to 'run something past' Tia, as they say nowadays. No need to prepare yourselves for sun exposure." "We only wonder why you change your schedule," said the younger mare, "You tend to prefer to retire earlier in the morning." "Thank you for letting me know what I prefer Guardspony Blossom," said Luna with a wry grin, "should I ever require a steward you shall be notified." The princess descended the large marble staircase and stopped at the entrance to the large throne room. "The line is already forming for morning supplications," said the cream-coated unicorn mare as she examined a long scroll, "I will have the chefs bring you a light breakfast once you're settled in the throne." She adjusted the tight bun of her brown mane and used her magic to float the jeweled tiara towards the alicorn standing next to the gold filigreed mirror. "Thank you Raven," said Celestia as she took her crown and placed it upon her thoroughly brushed mane, "is there any chance of getting some coffee before I head down?" Raven's eyes widened in panic as she began stuttering. "Of c...course, y...your majesty," she said, "I can have some here in a few moments, but you will be behind your morning schedule. Perhaps if we..." Celestia sighed and held out a hoof, forestalling her stewards frantic planning. "That's alright Raven," she said wearily, "just have the chefs bring some along with my breakfast." Raven took one last look at the princess. She knew how grumpy the alicorn could get when she went without a good meal. As the secretary dashed out of the room, the statuesque white alicorn took another look into her mirror and growled at the bags under her eyes. "These long summer days were starting to get to me," she thought to herself, "perhaps I have grown too comfortable with the extra sleep I've been getting in the few years since Luna's return." It was no excuse for puffy eyes though. Long experience had taught her that even immortal rulers had to keep up their appearance. The great panic of 398 B.H. was caused by a chipped hoof. Celestia still remembered the wails of her subjects who worried their princess had been made mortal and the sun would soon fail to rise. Of course, today, the ponies of Equestria were far more enlightened than their ancestors had been, but old habits died hard, and Celestia reached for a tincture from a drawer beneath the vanity and gently dabbed it under her eyes. A wave of soothing coolness massaged away the irritation. Satisfied that she appeared as regal and timeless as ever, Celestia stepped out of her quarters and into the hallway. "This cake of coffee must be why our sister's rear has grown so large in my absence," said Luna around a mouthful of crumbly confection. She took another sip of the bitter concoction and wrinkled her nose once again. "Though we would probably eat nothing but sweets if we were forced to drink naught but this acrid swill." Despite her derisive statements statements towards the beverage, Luna took another sip. "Perhaps her majesty oughtn't have intercepted her sister's meal," said Flügelnacht. "Nonsense," said Luna, "the maid said it was for the princess. Are we not a princess? Blossom, is there anything in our appearance or demeanor that indicates that we are not a princess?" "No your highness," said the junior guardspony nervously. "Her majesty is most regal." "See Flügelnacht?" taunted Luna before sticking her tongue out at the grizzled old bat pony knight. He simply looked towards the floor and shook his head in exasperation. "Ah, our Sister doth approach," she said, "Waylay her guards while we engage her in conversation." Before the guard could protest, she strode forward, unconsciously floating the mostly drained mug of coffee behind her. Celestia furrowed her brow in confusion as Luna approached. "Sister," she said, "shouldn't you be asleep by now?" Luna usually peeked into Celestia's room as the solar regent woke just to chat or bid her a good day before retiring to her own rooms. This time of year, she usually respected her sister's longer hours and let her sleep as long as she could. Most of their time together was in the mid afternoon when Luna woke to begin her day. "We have a matter to discuss," said Luna. "Can it wait until tonight?" asked Celestia, "I promise we'll talk as long as you want then." The elder alicorn stifled a yawn as she walked past her sister and into the throne room. Luna's face glowed red with outrage, which she quickly reined back in. "Sister, I must insist," she said after taking a deep breath, "'twill take but a moment." She turned her gaze on her guards and wordlessly shook her head at the gold armored ponies making to follow after the two sisters. Flügelnacht sighed, hung his head low and stepped in front of the larger of the two gold armored pegasi. "You see," she began as they walked across the long room, "we have had much time to think lately, and we have decided that our talents are not being properly utilized." "Nice to see you," said Celestia to one of the many ponies standing in an orderly line. After shaking several proffered hooves, she glanced back at her sister. "Which talents might those be, Luna? Last time I checked, Equestria has little need for an expert basket weaver." "Our baskets are sublime!" exclamined Luna, "and any peasant would be thrilled to have one." "Citizens, Luna," said Celestia, "we've talked about this." "Commoners, peasants, vassals," said Luna, "whatever thou deem them. Our point remains; we are a leader of ponies with nopony to lead save my small contingent of guards." "Ponies don't need to be led anymore Luna," said Celestia after trading pleasantries with a pair of well dressed supplicants. "If you want to help more, then take on some of these more ceremonial duties." She began walking up the red carpet covered stairs towards the pair of high backed thrones at the rear wall of the throne room. "You could hold hearings at night," she said hopefully, "maybe cut this crowd in half?" "But of course," said Luna sarcastically, "afterwards, we could visit the pantries and count the legumes." "Luna," said Celestia with a hoof held to her forehead, "You asked how you could help. If you're bored, maybe it's time to drop the whole nocturnal thing?" "T'would violate tradition," said a scandalized Luna, "Besides, wouldst thou be comfortable sleeping while thy work with the sun is but starting?" "That's different," said Celestia, "the sun requires my attention constantly. Would that I could simply raise it and lower it and call it a day." She saw the indignant expression on her sister's face and immediately regretted her words. "Luna I didn't mean..." She gathered herself and leaned into Luna's side. "We both know there's more to what we each do with the celestial bodies," she whispered conspiratorially, "but the fact remains that the moon will take care of the moon. If you're feeling restless, then join me in the day for a few weeks. I could certainly use the company." "Your majesties?" said Raven softly from behind Celestia's throne, "would you like to begin supplications?" She held a pocketwatch in one hoof and a detailed checklist in her magical aura. "Of course Raven," said Celestia, "have the maids arrived with my breakfast yet? I'm desperate for my morning coffee." Luna stopped mid sip and quickly hid the solar sigil branded mug behind her. "We haven't seen them," she said nonchalantly. Screwing back up her courage she reasserted herself. "Besides, all this frippery distracts us from our purpose." "Then spit it out Lulu," said Celestia, frustration dripping from her words. "We wish to return to the moon," said Luna. "The moon?" asked Celestia. "Yes," replied Luna. "The airless, lifeless rock you usher around the earth?" asked Celestia. She rubbed her temples with her hooves. "'Tis far more than that," barked Luna angrily, "and thou knowest it to be so. Would'st thou call thy sun a mere ball of burning gas?" "No," replied Celestia with a raised voice, "but I certainly wouldn't want to go back there." "The difference is, ponies could survive on our moon," said Luna proudly, "with enough courage and cleverness, we could open a new frontier for anypony in Equestria looking for adventure!" She swept her hoof across the throne room full of ponies. "Not everypony is content waiting in lines to present their petty problems to their infinitely patient rulers. Surely thou art aware of the tedious nature of ruling such an orderly, peaceful country?" "Aware of it?" asked Celestia, "I revel in it!" She stomped her hooves onto the floor and stood above her sister. "Why would I exile more of my little ponies to the same horrible prison I sent you to when we have finally created a realm worthy of them? Do you know what that did to our past subjects? You have to know what it did to me!" "Our moon is not a horrible prison," growled Luna, "tis a beautiful land just waiting to be tamed." "I forbid it," said Celestia, her voice punctuating the brief as if to say that nothing more would be said on the matter. "Thou darest?" screamed an incensed Luna, "We are a royal princess of Equestria. We shall do what we will, and there is nothing thou can do to stop us!" Celestia took a step backwards. "By the gods," she gasped, "you sound like her again!" Luna stepped forward and placed her muzzle mere inches from her sisters. "I forgive you for that," she said for only Celestia to hear, "but for all your talk of love and forgiveness, you still think of me as that monster." Luna carefully descended the stairs backwards, maintaining an icy glare on her sister. "We shall be away for a fortnight," she said loudly, "we must find ponies who feel as we do, and who can believe in us as thou cannot." At the bottom of the staircase, she spun around imperiously and marched past the stunned onlookers. She stopped briefly by the stained glass window depicting her release by Twilight Sparkle and the five other Elements of Harmony. With a rueful shake of her head she continued to the large double doors and collected her guards. "Gather the others," she said to the trailing bat ponies, "We march at moonrise."